When I founded Funny Women 24 years ago, it wasn’t just a passion project; it was a direct response to a misogynist comedy promoter I was working for as a publicist.
From the chaos of consumerism, parenting predicaments and midlife plot twists, Val Troy unpacks the absurdity of trying to keep it all together.
I set up LMAOnaise Comedy as a way to shout about all this fantastic comedy I was ingesting, and to build a community of people who wanted to do the same.
Yesterday we took centre stage in London t o celebrate the first ever Live Comedy Day and spent 12 hours connecting Funny Women, supporting the hilarious Gobby Girls and hosting spectacular events.
At one of my last gigs before I had my daughter, the promoter said ‘don’t worry, when you have the baby you can just bring it to the gig, I’ll hold it in the green room while you’re onstage’.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, the global landscape for women feels more like the ‘Wild West’ than ever before.
The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.
If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.
WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!
WHO CAN ENTER?
This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.
ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?
Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?
We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.
HOW IS IT JUDGED?
Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes
The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.
If you need further information please contact us here